Method of forming a racquet

ABSTRACT

A method of forming a game-playing strung racquet construction wherein the frame is cast of metal. The frame may be formed of a high tensile strength alloy, such as an aluminum alloy.

United States Patent Melnick et al.

[451 Nov. 7, 1972 METHOD OF FORMING A RACQUET inventors: Samuel H. Melnick; Samuel W. Landsman, both of Chicago; Walter A. Stromski, Des Plaines, all of Ill.

Assignee: Midland Sporting Goods Company,

Inc., Chicago, Ill.

Filed: March 22, 1971 Appl. No.: 126,851

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 738,634, June 20, 1968, Pat. No. 3,582,073.

U.S. cl; ..29/163.5, 29/433 rm. Cl ..B23p 15/16, B23p 19/04 Field of Search ..29/163.5 R, 433, 155 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,568,290 3/197 1 Carlton ..29/ 163.5 R

Primary Examiner-Thomas l-l. Eager AttorneyAxel A. Hofgren et al.

=[57] ABSTRACT A method of forming a game-playing strung racquet construction wherein the frame is cast of metal. The frame may be formed of a high tensile strength alloy, such as an aluminum alloy.

, 11 Claimed airies ures.

METHOD OF FORMING A RACQUET CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION I This application comprises a division of oopending application Ser. No. 738,634, filed June 20, i968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,073 for a cast metal racquet with off center string guides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field Of The Invention This invention relates to game-playing racquets and in particular, to forming strung racquets for playing games such as tennis, badminton, squash, and the like.

2. Description Of The Prior Art In the conventional strung racquet for playing games such as tennis, badminton, squash, and the like, the frame is formed of wood. Recently, a number of racquet constructions have been developed utilizing tubular metal frames. Illustratively, such constructions are shown in the Lacoste U.S. Pat. Nos. R26,l28, 3,078,908, 3,086,777 and 3,206,203.

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved method of forming a game-playing strung racquet construction utilizing a cast metal frame of improved strength, playing action, low cost, and long life. The invention comprehends the provision of such a racquet construction wherein the frame comprises a metal casting which selectively may comprise a one-piece casting, or a multi-part casting.

More specifically, the invention comprehends forming a strung racquet construction comprising a cast metal frame defining a striking area and having end portions defining means for connecting the frame to the handle, the frame having apertures cast therein adapted for stringing therethrough of strings extending across the striking area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a broken front view of a cast racquet embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the handle portion thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end view taken in direction of the arrows of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-section taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the right half of the racquet construction of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged broken view of the frame and handle construction with the two halves spaced apart as before assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a racquet, generally designated 110, is shown to comprise a cast frame and handle construction, generally designated 111, including an arcuate mid-portion 112 defining a striking area 113 and spaced end portions 114 and 115. The racquet is formed of a cast metal, such as high strength aluminum alloy. Selectively, the entire frame and handle construction 111 may be cast as a single piece or the construction 111 may be cast as two separate halves 111a and 111k joined together by suitable rivets 135, 136 and 137. For this purpose, the frame halves are provided with overlapping apertured portions 138, 139 and 140, illustrated in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the racquet includes a brace portion 123, which may comprise brace portion halves 123a and 123b, cast integral therewith, thereby eliminating the need for a separate brace, such as brace 23 of racquet 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the overlapped portions 140 extend inwardly between the end portions 1 14 and 1 15 to provide improved rigidity of the handle portion 116 defined by the end portions 114 and 115. A cast handle structure 129 is provided in embracing relationship to the end portions 114 and 115. The portions 114 and are provided at their ends with intumed flanges 141 and the handle structure 129 includes intumed flanges 142 which are received inwardly of the flanges 141 to lock the handle structure 129 against movement longitudinally of the end portions 114 and 115. The handle structure 129 further includes an intumedweb support 133 for providing rigidity of the handle at the opposite end. The handle structure 129 maybe secured about end portions 114 and 115 by suitablewrapping of the handle structure 129. Alternatively, the handle structure may be enclosed by tubular plastic housing, or the like, and further improved rigidity of the handle structure may be provided by filling the interior space thereof with suitable foam plastic, or the like, as shown in FIG. 4.

The stringing of racquet 110 may be effected by means of a plurality of apertures east in the frame portion 112. As shown in FIG. 5, the frame portion 112 includes an inturned flange 143 defining alternately raised and lower portions 143a and 143b forming a plurality of tabs projecting inwardly toward the striking area plane. Thus, the apertures 120 open perpendicularly to the flat plane of the striking area 1 13. Thus, tab portions 143a and 143b, respectively define surfaces 143a and 143b' lying in the fiat plane of the striking area 1 13 so that the strings 121 are brought through the apertures 120 from the striking area 113 at the common plane.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the end portions 1 14 and 1 15 effectively define T-sections having intumed legs 144 providing reinforcing of the cast handle portions. The brace portion 123 provides a continuing extension of the frame portions 111a and 111b including the apertures 120, thereby to define a continuous peripheral structure about striking area 113.

Thus, the invention comprehends an improved method of forming improved game-playing strung racquet means utilizing a cast metal frame and handle construction eliminating the disadvantages of the conventional wood frame and handle racquets, in a structure of extremely simple and economical manufacture. The racquet provides highly desirable feel similar to the feel of conventional wood racquets while yet providing unlimited frame and handle life. By suitable control of the manufacturing operations in the use of the metal structures, highly accurate control of the weight of the racquets may be obtained. Further, accurate control in the arrangement of the stringing apertures and maintained configuration of the frame provides for, improved stringing of the racquet. As portions of the racquet may be adjusted for weight, improved, balancing of theracquet for improved manipulation thereof is further provided.

The foregoingdisclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

We claim:

1. The method of forming a game-playing strun racquet comprising the steps of:

casting a metal frame having apertures cast thereineach opening to a single central flatwise plane of the frame; stringing strings through said apertures; and providing handle means on said frame. 2. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 1 wherein said frame is cast of high strength aluminum alloy as a single piece.

3. The method of forming a game-playing strungv racquet of claim 1 wherein the casting of the metal is carried out suitably to provide in the strung racquet a feel similar to that of conventional wood racquets.

4. The method of forming a game-laying strung racquet of claim 1 wherein the casting is adjusted for balance of the racquet to provide facilitated manipula tion.

5. The method of forming a game-playing racquet frame comprising:

forming a looped frame of high strength metal while concurrently casting in said frame a plurality of apertures having surface characteristics differing from the surface characteristics of conventional perforated apertures to define improved means for racquet stringing therethrough.

6. The method of forming a game-playing racquet frame of claim 5 wherein each of said apertures is cast in said frame to open directly into a single'flatwise plane extending across said looped frame.

7. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 6 wherein a plurality of tabs are cast in said frame in a series'altemating to opposite sides of a single flatwise plane of the looped frame.

8. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 6 wherein a pair of spaced handle portions are cast integral with said looped frame and apertures are cast therein concurrently with the casting of said stringing apertures for use with securing means to brace the handle means.

9. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 6 wherein said forming step comprises forming an intumed flange having nonplanar opposite faces and said casting step comprises casting said aperture in said flange to open through said faces in different planes parallel a flatwise plane extending across said looped frame.

. 10. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 9 wherein forming said frame comprisesa step of forming separate frame halves, casting openings in said frame halves, and securing the frame halves together by securing means extending through said cast openings to form the looped frame.

11. The method of forming a game-playing strung racgiuet of claim 9 including the step of forming on eac of said frame halves a handle portion and providthrough said cast openings. 

1. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet comprising the steps of: casting a metal frame having apertures cast therein each opening to a single central flatwise plane of the frame; stringing strings through said apertures; and providing handle means on said frame.
 2. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 1 wherein said frame is cast of high strength aluminum alloy as a single piece.
 3. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 1 wherein the casting of the metal is carried out suitaBly to provide in the strung racquet a feel similar to that of conventional wood racquets.
 4. The method of forming a game-laying strung racquet of claim 1 wherein the casting is adjusted for balance of the racquet to provide facilitated manipulation.
 5. The method of forming a game-playing racquet frame comprising: forming a looped frame of high strength metal while concurrently casting in said frame a plurality of apertures having surface characteristics differing from the surface characteristics of conventional perforated apertures to define improved means for racquet stringing therethrough.
 6. The method of forming a game-playing racquet frame of claim 5 wherein each of said apertures is cast in said frame to open directly into a single flatwise plane extending across said looped frame.
 7. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 6 wherein a plurality of tabs are cast in said frame in a series alternating to opposite sides of a single flatwise plane of the looped frame.
 8. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 6 wherein a pair of spaced handle portions are cast integral with said looped frame and apertures are cast therein concurrently with the casting of said stringing apertures for use with securing means to brace the handle means.
 9. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 6 wherein said forming step comprises forming an inturned flange having nonplanar opposite faces and said casting step comprises casting said aperture in said flange to open through said faces in different planes parallel a flatwise plane extending across said looped frame.
 10. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 9 wherein forming said frame comprises a step of forming separate frame halves, casting openings in said frame halves, and securing the frame halves together by securing means extending through said cast openings to form the looped frame.
 11. The method of forming a game-playing strung racquet of claim 9 including the step of forming on each of said frame halves a handle portion and providing in said handle portions openings, and securing the handle portions together by securing means extending through said cast openings. 